September 12 (Barbara K would have been 60)

Line-trimmed uphill side of driveway; lots of Polygonum, Rubrus, other stuff-- trying to get to it before it flowers. Also trimmed grass at street, and chewed up the bermuda grass which is not happy after I sprayed it. May hit it again before frost....

Also cut some paths through meadow.

Planted Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Love Grass) in front porch bed. In same bed, a chocolate Eupatorium rugosum (2nd one) Pycnanthemum incanum (mountain mint). In meadow, between oak and pine, a Helianthus decapetalus (thin-leaved sunflower, poss, mislabeled).

Planted in back, at wood margin, a Hairy Angelica (Angelica venosa) "Sun-part shade, avg to poor acid soil, well drained. 2"-6" wide umbels of white flowers like Queen Ann's lace, 2-4' tall, blooms June-Aug.-- P. Heus"

Planted Shale Barren Pussytoes (Antennaria virginica --"nice ground cover"says Peter Heus) in deck bed, above rock wall left of big steps, and in driveway corner.

Planted Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense) in screen porch garden and in rock wall garden. Hope it's wet enough. P. Heus says it's good ground cover in moist shade. "Deeply lobed, silvery mottled leaves in spring, purple bells in June."

Planted Wild Quinine (Partenium integrifolium) above rock wall garden by small steps, and by log next to oxalis bed. Maybe needs more sun?

planted Eragrostis seed along front porch bed border, and around dry stream.

Planted Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) at base of dry stream.


EXTRA!!!!
Uncovered biggest box turtle I've ever seen while line trimming-- probably was eating mushrooms. A big beautiful male, mostly yellow. Most disgruntled upon being hoisted aloft- no pulling into the shell for this guy!

1st Ponderpost

Because I always resolve to keep a gardening journal but never write, and since ginkgo hasn't YET made a steel trap of my brain:

Today's bird news:

One crow w/ suspected nestling (not hers) flew into big red oak on Kitsa's Escape Hill.

Goldfinches feeding on Monarda, Echinacea, Rudbeckia around driveway. One chased 50 feet by hummer.

No bluebirds eating the delicious mealworms I sacrificed.

Plant news:

Weeded in meadow and along driveway, mostly horseweed ( Erigeron canadensis) , common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), annual fescue, crabgrass.

planted in front of office:
(recently, from Behnke's) Asarsum heterophyllum (ginger), Pycnanthemum muticum (Blunt mountain mint), Eupatorium fistulosum ("Bartered Bride") Helianthus agustifolius ( ("Gold Lace"), Panicum virgatum (2 clumps of"Cloud Nine").


Blooming:

Chelone lyoni (pink turtlehead) (attracting hummers)

Partridgepea, both lobelias, echinacea and rudbeckia, of course, a bit of the Liatris (ones I'd cut),
the tall Helianthus that Mike put in the meadow, little bluestem just beginning, mountain mint (P. tenuifolium)


Cut down the sassafrass next to the garage, painted the stem w/ something awful. Hated killing it-- shouldn't have let it grow so long.

Arachnids:

praying mantis jumped a bumblebee feeding on partridgepea
black swallowtails everywhere, esp Lobelia
large black wasp digging in antlion territory behind yuccas
Garden spider outside kitchen sink getting fatter

Harvest:

a few tomatoes, lambsquarters (put into smoothie w/mango, spinach salad, superfood scoop